For those of you who follow me on Instagram, you know that Josh & I went on a little weekend getaway to Maine. We traveled up to Portland & then made our way to Bar Harbor. Although I love city living, I begged Josh to adventure up into Bar Harbor to see Acadia National Park because this city girl needs to immerse herself in nature every once. The mountains & the trees called to me like the colors of the wind call to Pocahontas. Lucky for me, Josh enjoys the great outdoors so we made plans to visit Bar Harbor & it was even better than we could’ve ever imagined! Funny how that all works out, kind of like when you don’t expect very much from a recipe, but it turns out to be something you want to eat everyday.

Speaking of which, this modified recipe from Clean Slate by the Editors of Martha Stewart Living really surprised me. I mean, I knew I liked oatmeal, but I wasn’t crazy about it. I am, however, crazy about the combination of caramelized nectarines, coconut flakes, & almond milk. You could grab that box of cereal in your cabinet or you could reheat some delicious homemade oatmeal, toss some fruits on top, & sprinkle with agave or honey for a really delightful breakfast. I loved the addition of coconut flakes to the oatmeal, but do you know what brought this recipe to the next level? Mint.

I hear you, I hear you. “Mint, Tiff? Really? It’s just an accessory, a garnish.” OH, but you are wrong, soooOooOoo wrong. Mint may be a pretty little garnish or accessory to any plate, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t add another dimension or complexity to any dessert or savory dish. When Gaby visited, I added mint to our oatmeal with some mixed fruits & she remarked that it was a very surprisingly good & refreshing addition. So, when the people of Invaluable–a website dedicated to auctioning off nifty valuables such as art, jewelry, a signed jersey, etc–inspired me to write about my accessories or jewelry, I was dumbfounded on tying something completely unrelated to food or how anyone who would be interested in their company would be interested in my blog. But then I realized…

Oatmeal Porridge with Caramelized Nectarines

…that my mint garnish was indeed like any statement necklace you put on to really take your outfit to the next level. I don’t personally spend a lot of money on accessories or jewelry, so I resort to really cheap things from Forever21 or H&M because sometimes you can find items that are fancy, but cheap & not so fancy it looks cheap.

I’m also not the kind of girl who likes to pile on a million rings on my hands because I prefer classic simplicity than the look of a tacky ring stand. Rather than blabbing on about those aforementioned stores, I thought I’d focus on three recent pieces of accessories that actually mean something to me.

Sparklez & Shininess

The diamonds on the MK are not real, but I believe the diamonds on my necklace are.

So pretty, it’d make a beautiful ring!

Took this watch when I was hiking in Acadia. Not the best watch to go hiking with since it’s so pretty, but it’s nice to know it’s waterproof!

I don’t wear much jewelry when I hike, but when I do, it’s this necklace.

Both the Michael Kors rose gold watch & the diamond necklace are gifts from my mom. I’ve never bought myself an expensive watch before, but I loved the MK styles, so I’d look on Amazon to find $20 watches that looked $200. I was successful twice, but they eventually broke within a few months. So, the whole save money on an expensive watch ordeal actually just cost me money. Thus, the MK watch was a Christmas gift & a, “Congrats-on-still-trying-to-get-into-medical-school-via-post-bacc-program-&-not-sitting-at-home-picking-your-nose” gift.

As for the gorgeous diamond necklace, it was a gift she presented me with on the day of my graduation from UCLA. I didn’t need her to get me anything because she’s done so much already by existing, but the woman decided to give me something that would always remind me of her. I wear this necklace nearly everyday since she put it around my neck. It is simultaneously one of the most beautiful & meaningful pieces of jewelry I have.

Lastly, the bracelet is a little gift Josh sent me shortly after we returned from our trip to Colombia. He sneakily bought a little present for me & sent it my way. It’s not made of rose gold & it’s not made with diamonds, but it’s from a country we’ve never visited before until we attended our first wedding together. Most significantly, it’s from a person I love.

So, maybe you ARE the type of girl who likes to tack on a minimum of 10 rings per hand. If that’s your jam, well shoot, it’s your jam! Everyone’s style is unique, even if you think you don’t have any style at all. Your “lack of style” is your style. The next time you feel up to buying some new jewelry for a loved one or yourself, check out Invaluable. Maybe you’ll find a new way to accentuate your next outfit or the perfect piece of vintage jewelry! I actually need to clean my necklace, but I don’t want to fork over the money for a professional cleaning. Thank goodness there’s a way for me to do it myself.

Comments

Mint, although I don’t usually like it, can add a really awesome pop of flavour to a dish and make a lot of difference. I appreciate a lot of the small additions to food even if some people think it’s “just a garnish”. It’s all about how it works with the rest of the dish. I had this amazing salmon up in the Hunter Valley some time ago, and it had a mix of such exotic flavours, there were small bits of sesame oil, watermelon, sweet sauce, some mint (!!!!!!), and god knows what else but it made appreciate every single damn part of the entire meal because everything was an amazing fusion of pizzazz. (Made no sense there but you know what I mean.)

I think I am salivating. 🙁

I used to wear a criminal amount of jewellery and be a huge fan of “arm parties” and “ring stacks” but to be honest, quite recently actually, I found that I’ve moved on from that. I’m more into simplistic and classic jewellery now, and prefer to wear less, which can make just as big a statement as a stack of rings.

The necklace looks absolutely lovely on you. 🙂 Every day I wear a necklace that means a lot to me, because it was a gift from Nick on Valentine’s Day. I haven’t given too much thought to the two Guess watches (silver and gold) that I switch between on a daily basis, but I know my mum went out of her way to shop with me and help me find something that I really liked. I’ve always been picky with watches and don’t really favour large ones like yours – I just prefer skinny, thin ones because I think they suit me better.

I try to buy better quality pieces now as well, because when I clean them myself they don’t just get tarnished like most of the costume jewellery from chain stores. I have found that stainless steel is an awesome alternative to pure gold/silver/whatever. Speaking of chain stores, even though I used to buy heaps of jewellery from them all the time, I have resorted to finding unique (but awesomely pretty!) and handmade pieces online, because you just can’t get that stuff in stores. Similar to how you feel about the bracelet from Josh, I know some of the pieces I buy are not super flash and mega expensive, but I appreciate that it’s someone’s fine piece of work and no one else would probably have exactly the same thing.

The only mint I like are peppermints, sadly. I would probably stay away from that dish, though I admit I haven’t tried Porridge. Love the gifts you got from your mom and understandably you’re right. Your style is all your own regardless of what other people think. Stay true to yourself and you’ll be fine!

Mint and oatmeal? Now that’s a combination that seems a bit odd to me, but the more I think about it, the more it just works! And guh, mint reminds me of mojitos. Now I want a glass of that!

I’m glad you got to go out into the nature 😀 I LOLed when I saw you compare yourself to Pocahontas, and now I got “Colours of the Wind” stuck in my head!

Love your new accessories! The watch looks great! I love the style, but it’s a bit too big for me XD My watch is much thinner and smaller than yours, and it’s not a super brand name like Michael Kors, but a Korea-based brand called OST — Original Silver Timepiece 🙂

Thank you. Watch styles look different on everyone’s wrist. I have a pretty small wrist, but I prefer the larger faces to the small ones. The small watches remind me of what my mom used to wear in the 90s & the really tiny ones aren’t a style I’d particularly like, but to each their own. I treat it as both functional (I know the time at all times!) & as a statement piece. It’s also so beautiful. Had a lot of nice conversations with people over it. 🙂

Your photos on Instagram were so pretty! I love visiting scenic places while on vacation. It’s a nice change from what I usually see, and it’s like photography heaven, haha.

I’m normally not a fan of oatmeal, but the addition of nectarines, coconut flakes, and mint sounds good 😀 Definitely makes it more interesting!

The watch and necklace your mom got you are beautiful! I also like the pattern on the bracelet. I love that each one has a special meaning to you 🙂 The necklace I wear everyday is a jade heart from my grandpa. I’ve had it since I was a little girl and have been wearing it ever since!

Thank you! I wasn’t the biggest fan of oatmeal growing up either & only ate the one with the most ingredients because I kind of thought it was like lumpy cardboard. Making it yourself though, it’s definitely more enjoyable.

That’s a really sweet story. 🙂 I used to have those jade bracelets, pink, orange, green, etc. Smashed them all. So careless, but I was a kid & they were so easy to either lose or break. Always made me so sad that they’d break too. Take care of that necklace! 🙂

Weekend getaways are the best! You get to spend time away from normal routines and enjoy some new sightings or something out of the norm. Your oatmeal looks delicious! I normally don’t like oatmeal porriges by default because it’s so plain but the garnish would definitely help kick in some flavor.

I used to be a fan of accessories from Forever 21/Wet Seal/etc. The thing I don’t like is that the bracelets become discolored over time :$. I didn’t know there’s an actual cleaner for these kinds of accessories! I would think it’s better to buy one expensive watch that would last a couple of years than 10 watches that lasts a month or so. Your watch, bracelet, and necklace looks nice!

The Mr. and I drove up to Maine this weekend (lobster lunches and antique hunting) and have been talking about taking a drive up to Bar Harbour. Do you have any recos on what to do, where to stay, and where to eat? Your photos on Instagram look breathtaking. . .so I’m thinking I should not continue to delay this quick weekend jaunt.

As for oatmeal. . .I am a big fan but haven’t been indulging in it much as of late because I have been watching my carb consumption. . .but I love your addition of carmelized nectarines, coconut flakes, almond milk and mint (mint anything is tops in my book). I bet this would also taste absolutely divine on yogurt as well and I am starting to dream it up in a cake. 🙂

I forgot to comment on your low-carb diet remark on my previous blog. I’m definitely shocked! Hilarious that you’re such an amazing baker, yet you eat on a lighter side. Please deliver me your leftover creations. Boston is small, you’re probably my neighbor & I don’t even know it! This rain has been interesting, right!? See any flash floods yet?

Anyway, onto your questions: yum!!! I never really thought much of Maine until I visited Bar Harbor, so YES GO DO IT. DON’T EVEN HESITATE. I absolutely recommend going to Acadia National Park. Take the entire day to hike around the beach & then up the island. It’s worth every drop of sweat. Stunning views. As for food, I’d recommend McKay’s. Indulge & try their sticky toffee pudding: YUMMMMMMMM!!!!

If you do end up dreaming this recipe up into cake, then you must absolutely send me a piece.

Wow, mint really sounds like a good idea. I never thought of it. I love mint, it is so yummy for the tummy. I will have to try this recipe out soon. ♥

Ah, the great outdoors. That is what I need to do. Just get away for a day or so, out in the woods – or at least the greener part of Texas and get away from all the hustle and bustle of my job and technology. I could just imagine myself sitting outside drinking some tea and just letting the wind hit me. lol

That watch is really nice. I feel bad about my stuff. I have some really nice watches and they just sit in my jewelry box, needing new batteries. DX

I’m sure there are some really nice places in Texas to go camping or out for hiking! It’s nice to take your mind off things & breathe in some fresh air. Sitting outside drinking tea & letting the wind breeze by sounds really nice.

Thank you! I get compliments on it a lot & it works with any outfit whether it’s casual or formal. Get your watches some new batteries, lady!!